It’s definitely not the largest house in the world, but then again, holiday cottages don’t need to be spacious in order to be comfortable. This particular project was designed by Tóth Project Architect Office and is located in Kapuvár, Hungary, on a scenic site in proximity to a tranquil lake. Finished in 2013, this modern holiday cottage offers just 538 square feet of living space and includes two primary units.
One of them is a central space that is used for living, dining and showering, while the other comprises a roofed terrace and a storage area. The central area flaunts a glass surface that faces the beautiful lake, while the kitchen and storage space are hidden from sight by paneled wood coverings. In order to prevent overheating, the architects implemented fabric roller blinds that completely alter the building’s look when they are deployed. Protection from the wind was achieved with the help of a special meditation area placed beside the fireplace.
From the architect:
It is always a big challenge to design a house of the lake-shore. We wanted to create something special, something unique. The location itself is idyllic, when we are there, we feel a special atmosphere. Being closed from the noise of the city, closed from the external world it is the island of quiet.
We imagined a house which is an organic part of its environment, soundly communicating with it. It has a simple form, ground-plan, materials. Indeed, the building is a matchbox standing on one side of it which is pierced through in the middle. Simpleness appears not only in the form of the building but also in the moderate application of the restricted assortment of the natural and artificial materials. The whole building is made of larch, free from any useless decoration. In addition to the metal sheet roofing and the large glass surface only a horizontal, gradually fuming plank covering, as well as at the storage part a split stack of wood of small texture can be seen. Because of lifting out from the surrounding gravel layer it produces a floating effect.
The ground-plan layout is characterized by transparency and fineness. It consists of two main units: one of them is a central room for living and dining functions together with a shower-toilet unit. The other one is the terrace open in two directions but roofed, together with a storage room beside. The central space has a full glass surface in the direction of the lake; the other internal surfaces are covered with panelled wood covering which hides the storages and the kitchen as well. The building is protected from warming up by means of outer fabric roller-blinds, when they are rolled down the building has another life in operation and in its appearance as well: in such cases the terrace is totally protected so it is an individual outdoor living-room.
The sitting-meditating place beside the fireplace serves also as a wind-protecting wall. The large landing stage, appearing in almost a steel grey colour, together with the rusty plate buttress behind radiates a special calmness.
Architects: Tóth Project Architect Office
Location: Kapuvár, Hungary
Architect in Charge: László Tóth, László Papp, Frigyes Schalling
Area: 50.0 sqm
Project Year: 2013
Photographs: Tamás Bujnovszky
Interior Design: István Bényei
Collaborators: György Kiss, Péter Schmidt
